Dispose My Meds Program
National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
Alexandria, VA 22314
Objectives1. Demonstrate community pharmacy’s commitment to public safety and welfare by providing effective mechanisms for consumers to dispose of unwanted medications.
2. Provide community pharmacies with tools to conduct effective medication take back programs.
3. Communicate community pharmacy’s commitment to safe medication disposal to state and federal public policy leaders, working in conjunction with other third parties.
4. Achieve significant public awareness for community pharmacy’s medication take back program
Methods
Design / · Develop & promote voluntary program
· Provide education to help assure compliance with all state and federal regulations
· Provide educational tools for pharmacy operators
· Produce marketing, communications and educational materials on environmental and public safety concerns about improper disposal and misuse of unneeded medications
· Generate local, state and national media coverage of public service nature of program
· Quantify types and amount of medicines returned, and where possible, source
· Operate program on continuing, year’round basis
Study endpoints / · In 12-month period, conducted three major program pushes: Launch during earth Week’s 4oth anniversary during April, 2010; second wave during Pharmacists Month and fall clean out the medicine cabinet campaign, and third phase during March 2011 Patient Safety Awareness Week; as well as on-going nature of program
· At conclusion of first year, over 1,200 independent community pharmacies in 47 states voluntarily provide this public service
· Create public awareness of program and location of collection centers
Results
· Program grew from zero to over 1,200 participating pharmacies in first year.
· Over 25,000 pounds of unused medications collected, the equivalent to over 36 million typical 2-pill doses
· Over 98% of public participating in the program praised availability of service
· Over 90% of pharmacies committed to operate program on on-going basis
· Sources of returned medicines were : 47% same pharmacy, 38% another pharmacy, 23% mail order, 9% other, 3% hospital, 9% doctor office and 3% other (note: total exceeds 100% due to multiple drugs from multiple prescribers and dispensers
· Reasons for returned medicines: 56% expired, 38% discontinued by prescriber,13% new medicine prescribed, 8% felt better, 6% concerned about side effects and 2% did not think medicine worked.
· Extensive media coverage exceeding 70 million impressions, including Parade Magazine and Consumers Report
· Unique zip locator directed consumers to collection sites, hours of operation and contact info
Conclusion
The first year of the Dispose My Meds Program is a major success, demonstrated by user surveys indicating extremely high degrees of satisfaction by pharmacy operators and patients/consumers. Conducted on a strictly voluntary basis, the community service and public safety value was cited as primary reasons for pharmacy involvement, and over 98%of participating consumers felt the program was both worthwhile and needed. Consumers also indicated they desired an easily accessible, year round program, rather than annual or periodic collection day programs, and highly favored a community pharmacy as the collection point. The turn key program developed by NCPA included instructions for operating the program to assure compliance with applicable regulations, as well as in-0store and external marketing and public education materials. An analysis of the local and state media coverage revealed that the NCPA provide materials were extensively used. In addition to providing a highly perceived valuable service, participating pharmacies indicated the program enabled them to enhance relationships with existing customers, as well as acquaint new customers with their service. The fact nearly 63% of the returned medicines were either expired or patients had concerns about side effects indicates a strong connection to medication adherence practices. NCPA is continuing to develop the Dispose My Meds program and hopes to have over 2,000 pharmacies participating by year-end 2011.
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